Vivian Callihan

Vivian Gray Callihan, 86, peacefully passed away at home on Tuesday, September 13th after a long and hard fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body dementia. Vivian was born on March 23, 1936 to George Gray and Lillie Bell Callihan. The first of ten children, she grew up in Bladenboro and married Paul Eugene Bass in 1952. A matriarch of the family, Vivian raised three children and adored her seven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

Vivian had a passion for life and her family. Those who knew her best would describe her as fierce, independent, and giving. Things that she loved included a wide variety that ran the gamut from the beach, her home in Oak Island, gardening, her family, animals (especially horses and dogs), and babies. She enjoyed thrift-shopping as well as finishing the day with good home country cooking or fried seafood. With a partiality to sweet tea or Dr. Pepper, she would always let everyone around know that she was enjoying her drink by shaking the ice in the glass to ensure it was cold, taking a sip, and going “ahhhh.”

She always rooted for the underdog and wanted to fix what was broken. This led to her being known to rescue dying plants, help those in need, and to take in and love dogs that had the personalities of small, grumpy dictators. Honest to a fault, one of her favorite sayings was, “Do you want me to tell you the truth, or tell you a lie.” If she didn’t share her opinion, all you had to do was to look at her face because her expression would let you know what she thought well before the words came out of her mouth. Her family is forever grateful for her unconditional love, support, and undying sense of humor.

While married to Paul Bass, Vivian gave birth to her three children: Paula, Darlene and Larry Bass. She later found love in her life again, marrying Bobby Quattlebaum of Bolivia in 1990.

Vivian is survived by her siblings and their significant others: Gladys Lockamy, Willard (Sylvia) Callihan, Barbara Jean Callihan, Brenda (Wendell) Crusenberry, and Barbara Callihan (Cecil) Page. She is also survived by her children Paula, Darlene, and Larry (Robin) Bass; her grandchildren Kelly (Jamie) Dalferro, Karen Bartlett, Kristen (Paul) Hewett-Haas, Paul (Sarah) Bartlett, Kimberly (Michael) Wells, Kandace (Agustin) Salas, and Jared (Megan) Bass; as well as her great grandchildren: Cooper, Finn, Wyatt, and Callan Dalferro; Logan, Haley, and Tyler Kingston; Blake Hudson; Lola, Lucy, and Gary Bartlett; Mallen and Holden Wells; Jadiel and Carmen Salas, and Lexie Bass.

She is preceded in death by both of her parents and multiple siblings including Ella Wese Callihan, Lillie Mae Callihan, Alice Russ, Bob and Lillian Blackman, and Wilbur Callihan.

The family will receive friends from 4-6 pm on Saturday, September 17th at the Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. A funeral service will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, September 18th at the Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home Chapel in Elizabethtown with Rev. Anthony Clemmons officiating. Burial will follow the services in the Pine Crest Cemetery in Bladenboro.